How does a boy from a small town in the Canadian prairies become a Guru?
For Ramakrishna Ananda, it actually began with much doubt.
As a young man, he questioned whether God existed at all. That nagging doubt sparked a longing, a hunger to know. One day, a young chiropractor friend introduced him to yoga, teaching him a few simple postures and lending him Autobiography of a Yogi. This book opened the door to an unseen world — one filled with light, wisdom and possibility. Meditation soon followed and with it a newfound freedom and clarity. That first glimpse of inner stillness became a turning point.
In the decade that followed, he immersed himself in the world’s great spiritual traditions — Christian and Jewish mysticism, Zen, Sufism, Theosophy, the Tao, as well as the Eight Main Yogas. Each path revealed a facet of the same eternal truth: behind all faiths lies the same Divine presence, patiently waiting to be known.
Then, in 1966, during a time of deep gratitude, he had an experience which changed everything — a moment of cosmic consciousness, samadhi. He became aware of the reality of Spirit, his awareness expanding into new realms.
Determined to live in a continual state of higher consciousness, he intensified his yoga practice. He entered into five months of solitude, silence and meditation in the Sierra Nevada foothills. There he experienced a major spiritual breakthrough. When Swami Kriyananda later saw him, he smiled: You went into the forest a caterpillar and came out a butterfly.
Soon after, following an inner call to go south of Los Angeles and share yoga with others, he founded the Yoga Center of California in Costa Mesa in 1970. Even though yoga was not well known or accepted at that time, he allowed Spirit to lead him.
He was further encouraged by several great yogis who came into his life. The silent master Baba Hari Dass affirmed Ramakrishna Ananda’s mission: You have come into this world to teach yoga and truth. You are a guru, a true guru. His readiness to share the higher teachings of Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) was also confirmed by another prominent yogi, Surath Chakravarti of Calcutta. It was then he was given the name Ramakrishna Ananda.
For over 50 years, Ramakrishna Ananda has shared yoga, focusing on Sri Ramakrishna’s main teachings: that life’s true purpose is to know God, that all sincere paths lead to the Divine, and that there is no end to spiritual realization. Thousands of seekers have benefitted, finding greater meaning and fulfillment by incorporating yoga into their lives.
In recent years, Ramakrishna Ananda has turned his focus to Yoga World, making the higher truths of yoga and spiritual life available to seekers around the world. His vision is simple yet profound: we are each called to help bring peace and spiritual upliftment to our families, communities, and the entire world. How? By first experiencing inner peace and higher consciousness within, recognizing the presence of Spirit in others, and then living from our true self, the soul.
We ask you to commit two hours a week to selfless service. This service can be anything you choose ranging from helping a family member or neighbor to volunteering at a nonprofit organization.
This commitment is solely between you and your inner self.
NOTE: We will not share your information with third parties.
